Parents

Attendance Policy

The Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees believes regular attendance at school is necessary to be a successful student. Therefore, the attendance of each student shall be monitored. Students are expected to attend school regularly and be on time. This is a parent/guardian and student responsibility.

Letters will be sent home to the parents of students who are absent more than (3) days for any reason informing them of the student’s excessive absences. A poor attendance pattern will have a serious effect on the grades a student receives. If the poor attendance pattern continues, the student will be referred to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB). Parents are responsible for ensuring regular attendance by students.

Turlock Junior High School has an automated attendance notification system. When the system calls on the day of the student’s absence, parents should call the attendance office to verify the reason for absence no later than three (3) days after the absence. Daily attendance is critical for student success in junior high school. Every day counts!

Excused Absences from Compulsory Attendance

Education Code Section 48205 permits a pupil to be excused from school under certain circumstances:

Illness

Medical, dental, optometry, or chiropractic services

Quarantine

Funeral of immediate family, limited to 1 day in state, 3 days out of state

Court appearance*

Illness of custodial child*

Any funeral attendance*

Religious holiday or ceremony*

Religious retreats limited to 4 hours per semester*

Employment conferences*

Other reason pursuant to board policy*

*Must be requested in writing by parent/guardian and approved by a district-designated official

Absence Verification

Effective 1998-99, the law no longer provides apportionment for excused absences. However, attendance records must be kept to document compliance with compulsory attendance and teachers must report absences to the principal each day (at least once per month in adult education, ROC/P and continuation school) (ref. Title 5 CCR 401).

** Board Policy 5113: The policy stipulates that parents/guardians have three (3) days or seventy-two (72) hours to explain absences. After that time, the absence shall become a cut and detention will be issued and the decision will be final (i.e. no attendance appeals).

Absences must continue to be verified by district employees for compulsory attendance (ref. Title 5 CCR 421). The absences may be verified by:

A school or public health nurse

An attendance supervisor

A physician

A principal

A teacher

All other reasons will be considered unexcused or a "cut". Absent students shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during an excused absence that can reasonably be provided, and upon completion shall be given full credit.

The teacher of any class from which a pupil is absent shall determine what assignments the pupil shall make up. Tests and assignments may be the same as those missed, or shall be reasonably equivalent to them as set forth in the Education Code.

Religious Holiday or Ceremony

The District will allow release time for students to participate in religious exercises or to receive moral and religious instruction under E.C. 46014. A student’s absence will be considered verified, with full rights to make up tests and homework if the following conditions are complied with:

a) The student has the written consent of his/her parent or guardian indicating the time the student is to be released from school. The written consent must be submitted to the school two days prior to release from school.

b) Verification of attendance at the designated exercise is provided to the school on the first day after the absence.

c) The student attends school on the day of the absence for at least the minimum day as defined by the Education Code: Grades 7-8 = 240 minutes.

WHEN RETURNING TO SCHOOL AFTER AN ABSENCE OR IF THE STUDENT IS MORE THAN 10 MINUTES TARDY TO FIRST PERIOD, THE STUDENT SHOULD REPORT TO THE ATTENDANCE WINDOW:

The student should have a note from the parent or guardian explaining the reason for absence.

OR

The parent/guardian may call the attendance recorder (667-0904) or the main office during school hours (667-0881) to explain the absence.

Absence and tardy notes must include the following information:

Student name (first and last)

Dates of absence or tardy

Reason for the absence or tardy

Signature of parent/guardian

Any student who becomes ill at school, needs to check with the Health Technician before leaving school or calling home. Any student who needs to leave school for any reason must first check out at the Attendance office. Any student leaving campus without permission will receive a “cut”.